Every Chinese person arriving from Europe is scanned multiple times, provided transport, and accommodation, upon landing in China, a Chinese woman told The Malta Independent, speaking about her experience arriving from Portugal.

The woman was in Germany on the 14 to 21 February, on a work trip, and from there went to Switzerland, followed by Holland, and finally leaving Portugal to China on the 12 March.

She described her visit to Europe as "really good" but said that "I was worried because nobody seemed to care about COVID-19." 

When she decided to go back to China, the Chinese government had already started implementing strict controls for those travelling from Europe. These travellers need to submit information to the city office, including their flight number, seat number, trip details, "so as they could track us," she explains. 

The Chinese woman took a flight from Lisbon to Moscow, and then from Moscow to Beijing. She remarked that both flights were full. 

Once she landed in Beijing, airport staff screened their temperature on the plane, and only after about two hours, could they enter the airport terminal. There was no duty-free shopping, or baggage reclaim, and everyone, including the Chinese, had to pass through customs control.

Beijing airport is very big, the woman explains, and passengers were not left to roam about. At each corner, staff pointed them in the direction they needed to go. The passengers also needed to provide their information at each testing point, for tracking, the woman explains. 

Their baggage was placed in a big hall, and they had to locate their own luggage. Airport staff then guided them to a bus waiting to take them to an exhibition centre.

No more than 10 people could board this bus. This centre is being used as a temporary setup to receive overseas flights, so as mass groups do not form, when leaving the airport. 

At this centre, there were different stands, for each province in China. The woman proceeded to her province stand, the Jiangsu province, to submit her information again, as well as to have her temperature checked again.

 

Another bus, specifically for those of her province, was waiting for her outside, to take her to the train station. A train was waiting for them, to take those from her province back to their city.

When she arrived at the train station in her city, what she called an 'apartment manager' was waiting for her. An ambulance was also already waiting for her at the exit of the train station to take her to her quarantine hotel.

She is now at the quarantine hotel waiting for her 14 days (plus one day for testing) to elapse. "If everything is ok, I can then go home," the women says.

"We cannot live with our families when we return," she explains, "to protect them," she adds. 

Quarantine in China is very serious, the woman explains, saying that "if we don't, we will be met with very serious punishment."

The woman, however, says she is very happy in the hotel, with the government bearing all costs including accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. She mentions that she has her temperature tested twice a day and her room disinfected twice a day too. The hotel is also equipped with doctors and nurses. 

The women remarks that there were limited checks in European airports, even though a few people were wearing masks. "I don't know why," she adds.

25 new cases in China, 1362 in Spain

In China, she says she feels say safe. "I don't need to worry about anything. Our apartment manager sends me a message every day to check if I need help. It is really kind."

She notes that, for now, the situation in China is stable and people are already working as normal. They do, however, have to wear masks when they are outside. The government has explained to them how to fight COVID-19, and how to protect themselves, she adds.

As from the 13 February, 30 percent of the Chinese were allowed to go back to work. On the 17 February, 60 percent were allowed back, and since the 25 February, all Chinese were back at work.

The situation in Wuhan, however, she says was very serious. One of her husband's friends was just transferring through Wuhan on 22 January and was confirmed positive for the virus. 

At the moment she explains that schools, travel companies, and some entertainment places, are still closed. Restaurants are only allowing takeaways, but as from 23 March, normality should resume. 

According to the website www.worldometers.info, China, on Sunday, only saw 25 new cases, in comparison to Spain which saw 1362 cases.

'Animal markets are illegal in China' 

The disease is believed to have originated from a Wuhan seafood market where wild animals, including marmots, birds, rabbits, bats and snakes, are traded illegally. Coronaviruses are known to jump from animals to humans, so it is thought that the first people infected with the disease - a group primarily made up of stallholders from the seafood market - contracted it from contact with animals.

When asked about these seafood markets the woman said that it is normal for every city to have such a market, since seafood is so popular in China. She remarks, however, that animal markets are illegal in China, "but you know, there are always a few people who challenge the law, especially in the South of China."

These markets, she says, usually sell wild animals and some people buy them, knowing full well that it is illegal. 

'The tables have turned, people want to come back to China'

When she first flew to Europe, in February, the Chinese government made her submit an application, and she was tested for the virus. This is done to ensure they are healthy to leave China.

Now, there are no limitations to fly to Europe, she notes, but "we also watch the news every day. Few people want to go to Europe now." She remarks that the tables have turned now and those who live in Europe want to go back to China.